Ex-secretary of Chitlapakkam panchayat under DVAC scanner

The accused official was identified as S Rajeswara Sethupathy, who joined as clerk at Vengaiyasal panchayat office, Madhurapakkam, Jalladiyan Pettai, Kancheepuram in 1988. In 1991, he was promoted as permanent panchayat secretary in the same place. Later, he was transferred to Chitlapakkam panchayat office where he worked as the panchayat secretary till August 2020. He is currently posted at Melnagar West Aarani, Tiruvannamalai.

According to the agency, Rajeswara Sethupathy enriched himself illicitly in his name and in the name of his deceased wife during the period of his office at Chitlapakkam panchayat. Most of the acquisitive activities of the accused fall between January 2016 and December 2019 and hence it was chosen as check period to evaluate his illicit wealth.

The value of his assets, which stood at Rs 12.24 lakh in the beginning of the check period, was pegged at Rs 43.90 lakh at the end of the check period. After considering his likely savings, expenses, etc., the DVAC estimated that he had amassed assets worth Rs 23.86 lakh.